Report: Hundreds laid off at Disney

Hundreds of Walt Disney World employees in Florida are being handed pink slips and escorted off the property.

Orlando Business Journal said its broadcast partner, Central Florida News 13, said the layoffs involve from 400 to 800 people, but Disney officials would not confirm the number of people affected. Disney said layoffs are part of the restructuring announced last month.

Disney officials told the station the layoffs fall under three categories:

* Restructuring back office operations in all parks and resorts.

* Improving operational efficiencies.

* A need for fewer positions because of falling demand at the parks and resorts.

The station reported the restructuring is not affecting union workers.

"Our members' contract provides guarantee on hours, job security and wage increases, so none of our members are affected by these changes," Eric Clinton, president of Unite Here! Local 362, told the station.

Disney announced March 11 that about 50 executives in the company’s theme park division accepted buyouts as part of a workforce reduction plan announced in January.

The company offered buyouts to about 600 executives, half of them working at Walt Disney World. The company didn’t say how many of the 50 parks and resorts division executives who accepted buyouts worked at Walt Disney World.